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May 7, 2011

Did you know that cashew nut comes from a fruit? Yes a fruit, I am always surprised by people's surprise by this bit of information. I have added a photograph to the left of your screen of the cashew fruit with the cashew nut at the bottom. Perhaps you're saying so...? and to that I'd say, all knowledge is good even the little bitty things that seem insignificant after all "knowledge is power". In this case though am relaying the information as an explanation due to a debate I was having with a friend about the cost of cashew nuts.

Cashews as I've stated before comes from a fruit. One nut per fruit, so in order to get 10 cashews you have to pick ten fruits. The fruit has a few colors according to its stage of ripeness, at least that's how I remember it. Each nut is nestled at the bottom of the fruit like a question mark. The fruit as you can see resembles a pear. The cashew fruit is absolutely delicious and very, very juicy but you must know exactly when to eat it or it will (tie up your mouth) leave your mouth feeling like it has been tied in knots much like when you take medications that dehydrate your body. Once the cashew fruit reaches it full ripeness you can eat it to your heart's content however the cashew fruit must be handled with care as it perishes fairly quickly much like strawberries. At least that has been my experience.

I remember as a child eating the cashew fruit and licking the juices from my elbows to my wrists, relishing every succulent bite. Ha ha, what can I say it’s the nature of kids to eat heartily and with a lot of gusto. In the Caribbean Island where I am from (Trinidad & Tobago) my friends and I use to gather wood and build a small fire beside the cashew tree, and then we would pick the cashew fruit twist off the cashew nut, eat the fruit and then roast the cashews and eat them savouring every bite. The fruit is spectacular and the nuts were the bonus prize that we gleefully stored possessively in either our shirts tails, school bags or whatever was handy for temporary storage until we were finished devouring the fruit. Understand the psyche of a kid we did not store it in one pile and then share, ooh no, we each picked our own and kept our nuts, storing in one pile proved dangerous as quarrels, disagreements, and fights would break out about who was entitled to the most or if one person in particular was eating too fast accusations would fly about how he was too greedy and was being gluttonous as to deprive the rest of us of any. Ahhh (sigh) it was a glorious time, I still love cashews the fruit and cashew nuts, the only draw back is now I have to pay for them (sigh).

You knew I would like this entry. I love cashews but had no idea that they came from a fruit. I’m now curious to try the fruit. However, instead I will enjoy this all natural frozen strawberry bar on a stick.

Excellent information on cashew fruits and the wonderful time you had when you were young. Those were beautiful days and will never come back.

I am living in a state which not only grows but also exports cashew nuts to all the countries in the world. Not only yellow fruits are there but also bright red ones. I have visited the cashew factories many times and seen how women peal the shells and take out the kernels to be be roasted.

In the evenings as the brilliant sun set over the palm trees I was thrilled to see these women coming out of the factories with bright colored blouses and mostly wearing white dhotis with empty lunch boxes swinging in their hand. They walked briskly to their homes chatting and laughing and it was alluring to see their happy faces.

I slowly rode on my motor cycle drinking the beauty of it all.It looked surreal to me.I was filled with a great joy. The dazzling sunset over the coconut palms,the cool breeze gently blowing through my hair,the lengthening shadows of the women folk, their chatter and laughter made me feel that I was going through a wonderland. The sights and sounds were enchanting. They will never go from my memory. Those were the days.

hmmmmm, namaste Joseph, you have my mouth watering. Every time i re-read your comment i think i would love to visit those factories, better yet get my hands on those trees and pick the fruit myself and roast the nuts as i did as a child.

Well, there you go again. Teaching me yet something else new and fairly interesting. Knowledge is power ... and power to stop at just one is something that I do not possess. I love cashews and pistachios. Yum. Yum. This certainly made for an interesting read, and now my taste-buds are craving some salty nuts!!

My favorite nuts but I never know till today that is a cashews fruit & cashew nut.You gave me good subject for next Wednesday after golfing and we have a ONE glass of wine.We never drink TWO because we need to drive the car that we can't afford to loose our drive licence:-)